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Early Adolescence
Physical change is the main event for
children at this age. Bodies grow in height and
weight, while hormonal changes bring on puberty,
wide mood swings, and worries about being
"normal." At school, budding minds are filled
with new possibilities, while peer pressure
represents difficult social challenges.
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In this awkward and often confusing period, adults can
help, with offers of support and understanding. Teens will
be reassured to learn that everyone grows at a different
pace. They may want to talk or get help finding information
about loneliness, sexual identity, vocational goals, or
personal values.
Child and Adolescent Health supports
programs and services that families, adults and teens can
turn to for help.
Child and Adolescent Health Programs
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Abstinence Education
The Abstinence Education Program
supports community projects and educational
media to reduce teen pregnancy in Washington
State.
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Coordinated School Health
This program works in partnership with
schools, state agencies, and community
resources to provide healthy and safe school
environments.
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Child Abuse Prevention
The DOH supports the Washington Council
for the Prevention of Child Abuse and
Neglect, and coordinates the work of
agencies statewide.
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Family Support Initiative
Actively engaged in the nation's Family
Support Movement, the Family Support
Initiative supports Parenting Leadership
programs in Washington communities.
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Teen
Health Fact Sheets
Addressing the key issues that
adolescents face, Teen Health Fact Sheets
provide information that families, health
providers, and teens can use.
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Helpful Links
Links to external resources are provided as a public
service and do not imply endorsement by the Washington
State Department of Health.
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Age of Consent
provides the Revised Codes of Washington, or
RCWs, pertinent to minors'
consent-to-health-services rights.
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TeenGrowth The web site of choice
for thousands of teens looking for health
information.
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Healthy Youth 2006 Survey is a
collaborative effort of the Department of
Health, Office of Superintendent of Public
Instruction (OSPI), Department of Social and
Health Services and other state and local
agencies. Many agencies in Washington,
including schools, work to help kids grow up
in healthy environments. The survey helps
these agencies to find out more about the
strengths and weaknesses in our communities
and programs for youth.
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Youth Tobacco Prevention: Outrage Avenue
is a website for and about teens and
tobacco.
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Youth Suicide Prevention Services
and other outreach/prevention resources are
available for youth and adults online, and
by phone: 1-888-431-8336 (Teen Link).
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Teen Health and the Media provides
the latest research on effectiveness of
media literacy education in preventing
unhealthy behaviors, and information and
resources pertaining specifically to media
literacy as a tool for preventing unintended
pregnancy, eating disorders, suicide and
alcohol, tobacco and other drug use.
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Bright Futures Guidelines for
parents and health care providers to help
children from birth through adolescence grow
up healthy.
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